Major League Baseball intends to give the players' association the required one-year advance notice that would allow management to unilaterally change the strike zone, install pitch clocks and limit trips to the pitcher's mound starting in 2018.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement Tuesday after union head Tony Clark said last weekend he did not foresee players agreeing to the proposed changes for 2017. Under baseball's labor contract, management can alter playing rules only with agreement from the union — unless it gives one year notice. With the one year of notice, management can make changes on its own.

Manfred said he will send a letter to the union in the coming days and plans to continue dialogue with Clark and others in hopes of reaching agreement.

"Unfortunately it now appears that there really won't be any meaningful change for the 2017 season due to a lack of cooperation from the MLBPA," Manfred said during a news conference. "I've tried to be clear that our game is fundamentally sound, that it does not need to be fixed as some people have suggested, and I think last season was the kind of demonstration of the potential of our league to captivate the nation and of the game's unique place in American culture."

Yet, he also added: "I believe it's a mistake to stick our head in the sand and ignore the fact that our game has changed and continues to change."

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Manfred said while he prefers an agreement, "I'm also not willing to walk away." Clark met with Cactus League teams last week, five at a time over Thursday, Friday and Saturday, before departing Monday for Florida to visit each Grapefruit League club — and proposed rules changes were a topic.

"I have great respect for the labor relations process, and I have a pretty good track record for getting things done with the MLBPA," Manfred said. "I have to admit, however, that I am disappointed that we could not even get the MLBPA to agree to modest rule changes like limits on trips to the mound that have little effect on the competitive character of the game."

Manfred said he didn't want to share specifics of his priorities for alterations.

A-Rod maintains he won't attempt playing comeback

Alex Rodriguez maintains he will not attempt a comeback.

Released last August with more than a season left in his $275 million, 10-year contract, A-Rod worked his first day as a New York Yankees spring training guest instructor. Asked whether he is retired, the 41-year-old responded: "Yes, I am."

"I am gratified for the opportunity to do what I'm doing now with the young kids and talk a little bit about what's expected here," Rodriguez said Tuesday. "For me, I learned my biggest lessons from some of my mistakes, and they were big ones."

Rodriguez said he received inquiries about possibly playing from "a few teams" after his release but decided not to pursue them. Any team could sign him for this year for the big league minimum of $535,000, which would be offset from the $20 million he is owed from the Yankees.

The Yankees honored him with a ceremony on Aug. 12 marking his final game, and Rodriguez contemplated whether to try to play elsewhere.

"I thought about it a little bit that weekend," Rodriguez said. "I was fortunate enough to have a few offers and I called them back and said 'no thank you.'"

Rodriguez hit 696 home runs in a 22-year big league career, including 351 during 12 seasons with New York.

Orioles acquire LHP Bleier in trade with Yanks

Baltimore acquired its second left-handed pitcher in three days when the New York Yankees dealt Richard Bleier to the Orioles for a player to be named or cash.

Bleier had a 1.96 ERA in 23 games for the Yankees last season. He was designated for assignment last week when New York finalized a contract with first baseman Chris Carter.

To make room for Bleier on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated first baseman/outfielder Christian Walker for assignment. Walker batted .148 in 13 games with Baltimore in 2014 and 2015.

Ankiel says he drank vodka before starts to tame anxiety

Rick Ankiel says he drank vodka before his first two starts in 2001 to quell anxiety after throwing five wild pitches in one inning during the previous season's playoffs.

Ankiel detailed his experience during an interview with 590 The Fan.

Ankiel was an emerging star with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2000 before his ruinous postseason debut. He pitched the first game of an NL Division Series against Atlanta and became the first major leaguer with five wild pitches in one inning.

The next season, he was "scared to death" before his first start against Randy Johnson and Arizona and says vodka "tamed the monster." He pitched five innings and got the win.

Ankiel has co-written a book, "The Phenomenon: Pressure, the Yips and the Pitch that Changed My Life," with Tim Brown, which is set for release April 18.

The Boulder alt-country band gives its EPs names such as Death and Resurrection, and its songs bear the mark of hard truths and sin. But the punk energy behind the playing, and the sense that it's all in good fun, make it OK to dance to a song like "Death." Full Story